‘I have no idea’ how long government shutdown will last, House Democrat says

Government Shutdown Overview - The US government is experiencing a full shutdown, impacting federal employees and services [1][2] - Approximately 750,000 federal employees are temporarily furloughed, with potential layoffs threatened [2] - The White House is considering making irreversible cuts during the shutdown, potentially targeting programs favored by Democrats [8] - $18 billion in New York City infrastructure funding is being frozen by the Office of Management and Budget [9] Political Messaging and Blame - Both Democrats and Republicans are blaming each other for the shutdown [3][5][6] - The White House is actively engaging in a messaging battle, attempting to brand the situation as the "Schumer shutdown" [12][13] - Republicans accuse Democrats of prioritizing healthcare subsidies for undocumented immigrants, a claim Democrats deny [7][8] - Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to defund Obamacare through a "backdoor shutdown" [38][39] Healthcare Debate - A central issue is the extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, set to expire at the end of the year [6][25] - Democrats are seeking to restore healthcare cuts instituted by Republicans, potentially benefiting DACA recipients in some states [27] - Republicans argue that Democrats are trying to expand healthcare access to "illegals" [28] - Economists estimate a potential 70% cut in healthcare across the board for Americans if ACA subsidies are not extended [52] Congressional Dynamics - Some Democratic senators have defected, voting with Republicans on funding bills, indicating cracks in the Democratic caucus [4][18] - There are glimmers of hope for a "meeting of the minds" among rank-and-file members, but leaders are sticking to their positions [24] - The shutdown is affecting the release of economic data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [32][33]